Q: my macbook air is full of malwares. How do I remove them?

OnyX doesn't detect malware, it's a free and verified system tweaking/utility, you have been tricked by a trojan downloading from a bad source and it's the malware.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OnyX

If you care to mention where this download occured, we can send it up to the malware folks at Apple for a XProtect update.

To fix your problem likely will require (in your case) the services of a local professional Mac/PC software and data recovery specialist. Not only to fix your machine, but to redo your Wifi security and passwords there so they can't just come back when you perform a update.

If you have a uninfected/never connected backup of your personal files, also making a second backup containing recent possibly infected files, you then can proceed to wipe everything and reinstall OS X yourself, then return only the non-infected/connected files and wait for XProtect update to cover the new malware before returning the newer possibly infected files. You must have a fast relaible, uncompromised Internet connection. You also need to reset your router firmware etc., also.

Lots of work involved, even printers may need to be flushed.

Reset your Mac

WiFi security issues, at home and WiFi hotspots

As he says, OnyX does not detect malware. OnyX does a number of "maintenance" tasks (most of which are actually not necessary) and will delete certain kinds of files to "clean" your system (not necessary - see The myth of the dirty Mac). I suspect you are misinterpreting the list of files that can be "cleaned" as malware.

I think that ds store is suggesting that perhaps you have downloaded a fake, malicious version of OnyX that is telling you you have malware for some nefarious purpose. That is extremely unlikely, though I obviously can't say it's impossible. If you could post a screenshot of what OnyX is telling you, that would help to settle the matter. With the OnyX window reporting the problem open, press command-shift-4, then press the space bar, then click the window. This will create a screenshot file on your desktop showing that window. You can attach it to a message here using the camera icon in the forum post editor's toolbar.

Malware looks like normal software. Go to your applications folder and sort by date. Anything recent that looks new or you don't recognize, post it here. Or just post a screen shot. Or just delete it, but if you're not sure post here.

Download Sophos for mac; it's free. After instalation, click on the icon located in the menu bar of your desktop and click on 'scan this mac'. If any malware is detected, follow the instructions from the link:

http://www.sophos.com/en-us/support/knowledgebase/118117.aspx

Under no circumstances should anyone be advised to "just delete" something they don't recognize from the Applications folder, just because it has a recent date! There are many things that should be there, but that the user may not recognize, and the date may be recent simply because it has been updated recently.

Besides which, no malware actually installs anything that makes a difference in the Applications folder. The malicious parts go elsewhere. At most, malware may install something harmless in the Applications folder as a smokescreen.

Edit: Before any more misleading advice on the topic of malware is posted, I would advise reading my Mac Malware Guide.

"Or just delete it, but if you're not sure post here."

That is just showing you two separate things: a list of the malware currently detected by the anti-virus system built into Mac OS X and a list of "downloaded items." I'm not sure exactly what qualifies as "downloaded items" for OnyX, but all the things in the list look like they were downloaded directly from Apple, so there's no reason to be concerned about them. Why the developers of OnyX chose to show these two completely unrelated lists side-by-side, I don't know, but none of this indicates that you are (or are not) infected with anything.

Regarding the performance issues, see my Mac Performance Guide.

To answer your other question, Sophos is reliable under normal circumstances. However, your performance problems are not the result of malware, and adding an additional variable when trying to troubleshoot such problems is never wise. Don't install any anti-virus software at the moment. Solve the performance issues first and foremost.

Once your computer is operating as it should again, then you should take a look at my Mac Malware Guide. If you decide, after reading it, that you want anti-virus software, use one of the ones it recommends. Be sure to keep in mind that no anti-virus software can ever be a guarantee of protection, so you must exercise caution and skepticism online.

Just get rid of "Onyx." It's useless for any purpose except wasting your time, as you're doing now. "Sophos" is another useless, time-wasting item of crapware. The only software you should install is what you need to get your work done. Use your computer; don't fuss with it.

Dear lizzieb123,

With all do respect to the very high level (high points) users of the forum who have posted to your question; most of these users have been using Macs far back enough that 'malware' for the mac was an unheard of (non existant) occurance. As the market share of Apple computers has increased, so has the incentive for 'criminal elements' to create 'malware' for Mac computers. If you ever hear anyone tell you that "...mac computers can't get malware..." simply put; they are full of crap. They will try to say "... yes, butt...blah blah blah..."; they are stil full of crap. Your machine, like any other man made piece of technology is capable of being exploited. Many of the 'experienced' users have so much 'technical' experience, they are able to identify, and eradicate any 'malware' without the assistance of third party software; always take their advice with "a grain of salt."

Download the Sophos anit virus for Mac, run the scan, and if any virus 'malware' is detected, take the appropriate action and delete it.

As far as your machine running slowly, that is a separate issue with separate steps that need to be taken.

All the best.

victoryhat New York City 

With all do respect to the very high level (high points) users of the forum who have posted to your question; most of these users have been using Macs far back enough that 'malware' for the mac was an unheard of (non existant) occurance.  always take their advice with "a grain of salt."

Basically you just 'politely' said that Thomas, Linc, Ds store, are 'old coots out of touch with reality'

Though not a fan of some of these guys response tactics which often is as smooth as sandpaper, its nevertheless nearly always 100% accurate.

Wisdoms definition is to "seek itself", and their advice is sound, and accurate, and based on endless years of experience.

...and to say that Thomas Reed, who eats sleeps and breathes "what is going on in the arena of Mac malware / virus etc" is somehow "out of touch" as you indicate is of course absurd,....no offense.

Peace

You have managed to 'cut and splice' my comment to put words (assign meaning of what I said) into my mouth. My post stands and the meaning of said post is explained within the post.

most of these users have been using Macs far back enough that 'malware' for the mac was an unheard of (non existant) occurance.

Yes, I have... but that was longer ago than I think you realize. The first Mac malware (the nVIR virus) appeared in 1987... there has been malware, though rare, ever since.

If you ever hear anyone tell you that "...mac computers can't get malware..." simply put; they are full of crap.

Blunt, but true. Also irrelevant to this topic, as nobody here has suggested that Macs can't get malware.

Download the Sophos anit virus for Mac, run the scan, and if any virus 'malware' is detected, take the appropriate action and delete it.

No, as I already said, do not install Sophos. The performance problems need to be addressed first, without adding another complicating factor into the mix. When troubleshooting computer problems, you never want to install additional software unless absolutely necessary, and even then only if it's software that doesn't install components that will run in the background.

Once the performance issues are solved, then lizzieb123 can feel free to install Sophos or not, as she pleases.